What happens when a pubescent teenage boy, encounters a pretty middle aged woman? Usually nothing. But what happens when that same woman wants nothing more than to get to know that teenage boy ? Usually nothing--as long as she does not mean in the Biblical sense. But what if she did? Then some serious censoring will need to take place in order to tell this story.
Fortunately on this Wikispace, the contents of Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife’s rather “Awkward Encounter” are revealed raw and unrestricted. As if this were not enough, the site offers an extensive psychoanalysis on the two characters so readers can see for themselves what truly makes them tick. A colorful diagram and some neat pictures are also presented for those who do not like reading. A follow-up analysis of what takes place during Joseph and Potipar’s Wife’s time together as well as a reflection on the assignment itself wraps everything up in a neat little package.
Dialogue Potiphar:Okay so Joseph's gonna come by today and just keep everything in order. I expect you to show him around and make him feel at home okay?
Wife: I can't believe you're getting us another servant boy. Maybe if you just help me around the house once in awhile....
Potiphar: You know the Pharaoh's gotten me on a tight schedule....and please take off the makeup, you're not a prostitute. Oh hey there Joseph, this is my wife. That your not suppose to touch under any circumstances (silence). Alright I'll let you two get familiar. Joseph: Cool
Wife: Ooh wow. You're so muscular.....
Joseph: Haha thanks I know.
Wife: Come let me show you the bed room. (door creak) so basically the linen's really soft and the bed press is really really really sturdy. The mini bar's right over there if you want a drink and the scented candles are over in the cabinet. hey maybe if you're free you can.....
Joseph: I'm not having sex with you.
(birds chirping to indicate a new day)
(scrubbing sound)
Wife: Working hard Joseph?
Joseph: Like always.
Wife: Hey listen about yesterday..I'm sorry i don't know what came over me. Just the heat of the moment, my husband never comes home...
Joseph: Oh no don't worry about it.
Wife: I hope we can be friends. I'm really looking forward to getting to know you.
Joseph: Oh yeah. I'm looking forward to it too. Hey between you and me, I don't think I've ever gotten the chance to know anyone before.
Wife: Well I guess it's your lucky day.
Joseph: yeah. hey, Potiphar said he wanted me to look at one of the stoves in the kitchen. How about afterwards I go whip us up some food and we'll get this party started?
Wife: That sounds great, bring it up to my bedroom .
Joseph: Alright cool.
(knock)
Wife: Come in.
(seductive music) Joseph: Hey, I didn't know how you like your steak so....(sigh) maam please put your clothes back on.
(alarm clock)
Joseph: God what time is it?
Wife: Hey Joseph, you want Lucky Charms for breakfast? Cause you're magically delicious.
Joseph: Maam, not today please. I just wanna get some work done
Wife: Oh what other work do you do besides being gorgeous?
Joseph: Maam I understand how attractive I must appear to you, but please show some restraint. Your husband will be home soon. He'll have us both thrown in jail.
Wife: If being handsome is a crime, you'd be guilty as charged.
Joseph: Your pick-up lines really need work.
Wife: (pause). You have really soft hands.
Joseph: Maam. I have too much respect for your husband to compromise his trust. I'm sorry. but this is just not going to happen
(foot steps walking away)
Wife: WOULD YOU PLEASE STOP AVOIDING ME. DON'T YOU GET HOW LONELY I AM. I HAVE NEEDS JOSEPH!
Joseph: HEY AND YOU THINK I DON'T?!?! YOUR NOT THE ONE WHO GOT THROWN IN A PIT BY HIS BROTHERS. BY THE TIME THAT CARAVAN CAME, EVEN THE DUDES LOOKED PRETTY DARN ATTRACTIVE.
Wife: Why would they do that? That's so terrible.
Joseph: I told them about these dreams I were having....
Wife: Oh spare me the details..
Joseph: no no not THOSE dreams. I dreamt they all bowed down to me. twice actually. Everything would've been better if they just accepted how much better I am.
Wife: Well your definitely more handsome.....you know me and Potiphar never get to talk like this.
Joseph: why not?
Wife:Oh he's always working. Business trip here. Building Pyramids there. It's like by the time he gets home he doesn't even try.
Joseph: I'm sorry to hear that.
Wife: Well he wasn't always like that. I remembered he used to be a stud. Muscular. Confident. and Considerate. Kinda like you Joseph....
Joseph: Hands to yourself please.
Wife: hehe. sorry. I just get so...so restless. I need you Joseph. You remind me so much of him. Your hair. Your eyes. Your skin. If i could wear your skin i would...
Joseph: Well you know, I do moisturize...
Wife: I uhm... I feel so unloved. I'm so desperate for just some kind of....relief...i need this so badly.
Joseph: Trust me lady. Every fiber in my body just wants to... yeah...but i just can't. Your husband won’t approve.
Wife: Why not? Joseph. Do what feels right.... Maybe just once you can make an exception.
Joseph: Well I guess there's no harm...
Wife: Yeah Joseph. What Potiphar won’t know won’t hurt him right? It'd almost be like you doing me a favor.
(suspenseful music builds up)
Joseph: I guess. I mean it’s about time right? I’m sure a quick one won’t hurt. I could just...maybe real quick...no i can't ....God's watching....
Wife: What?
Joseph: God can...(whispers) he can see everything.
Wife: ARE YOU SERIOUS IS THIS WHY ALL THIS ISN'T HAPPENING. THIS IS RIDICULOUS! I am so disgusted with you right now you don't even know
Joseph: Hey screw you. it's a legitimate concern
Wife: (sarcastically) oh yeah. your scared to try anything cause some old guy up in the sky's going to strike you down with lightning
Joseph: Don't get me angry lady.
Wife: how many more hints do I have to give you before you can man up! You act like such a child. What the hell can God do to you anyways?
Joseph: I'm leaving!
Wife: Yeah go run and play. Go play with your damn Legos and Hannah Montanna CD you little brat.
Joseph: There's nothing wrong with any of those things! Oh yeah, I'm gonna go buy a rag doll and explain to a lawyer where you wanted to touch me.
Wife: Yeah cause that will totally work...
Joseph: Yeah. I'm going to take my shirt off too so everyone's going to think you and I had sex!....here take it!
Wife:People are going to think you made the advances.....which (revelation) now that I think about it, is really fine by me.
Joseph: I've never hit a women before but you're really pushing it.
Wife: I bet you hit like a child also.
Joseph. Alright this ends now
Wife: Fight me on the bed like a real man Joseph.
Joseph: I....I've never hit a women before and i'm not starting now. I'm walking away from all this. Tell your husband I'm resigning. Keep the shirt so you don't have to call me cause I never want to talk to you again.
Wife: Good riddance.
(Footsteps)
Potiphar: Hey hun when's dinner gonna be....Why do you have Joseph's shirt?
Wife: Hey honey your home. Boy do I have a story to tell you.....
Dialogue Analysis
Phillip Ou’s captivating dialogue, “Awkward Encounter”, shows that although Joseph comes across as naïve and narcissistic, his ability to demonstrate class and honor conquers his temptations. Joseph reveals early on that he will not participate in any adulterous acts despite Potiphar’s wife’s invitations. While expressing her desires to know Joseph in the Biblical sense of the word, Potiphar’s wife begins to make sexual advances towards her new housekeeper. Joseph, who completely overlooks the euphemism, informs her that he also looks forward to doing so because he has never “gotten the chance to know anyone before” (Ou 2). Although Joseph perfectly executes an ingeniously written sexual euphemism, he displays a true lack of maturity by failing to understand the true connotation of the word “know”.
By misinterpreting the implication of her words, Joseph naively convinces himself that Potiphar’s wife truly wants to connect with him as a friend and not use him to satisfy her sexual needs. Joseph’s apparent lack of understanding and reasoning only encourages Potiphar’s wife to keep pursuing him. Another one of her attempts eventually compels Joseph to express his apparent vanity when Potiphar’s wife compliments him. When the two enter a discussion about their familial relationships, Joseph explains the animosity his brothers felt towards him because they could not accept “how much better [he] [was]” (Ou 3). By blatantly expressing his superiority over his older brothers, Joseph’s pretentiousness conquers any inclination he may have to respect his elders; thus defying one of the most prominent cultural values of the time. However, despite his childish disposition and conceited attitudes, Joseph handles his situation with Potiphar’s wife in a dignified manner.
Although most people would succumb to temptation and submit to Potiphar’s wife’s invitations, Joseph politely says, “Maam. I have too much respect for your husband to compromise his trust” (Ou 2). After chivalrously addressing Potiphar’s wife as “Maam”, Joseph honorably declines getting involved in any sexual relationship with his master’s wife. Joseph feels that violating Potiphar’s wife would dishonor and “compromise” the trust he has bestowed on Joseph. Demonstrating maturity and prudence beyond his years, Joseph weighs the integrity of his master over the lust any man would succumb to. Although Joseph possesses some glaring issues with his personality, his overall consideration and tactfulness allow him to do the right thing even in the most difficult situations.
Character Analysis
The Chart
Joseph Character Analyses
Joseph’s consistently noble and honorable nature allows him to come across as conceited and sanctimonious to his peers. Although just sold into an Egyptian household, Joseph takes command of his Potiphar’s home and all his possessions. Ultimately, his presence draws numerous sexual advances made by his master’s wife. Despite her invitations, Giovanni Barbieri’s painting,Guercino, illustrates a young Joseph holding off the woman’s hands and refraining from participating in any form of intercourse. Even more significant, Joseph’s eyes do not glare at the woman’s tempting figure.
Although lust would consume any man in this situation, his respectfulness for her and her husband allow him to avoid the image of her naked body all together. Joseph’s unlikely success in the strange land of Egypt, demonstrates a crucial moral the redactors of the Bible convey. Despite being falsely sentenced for sleeping with Potiphar’s wife, Joseph maintains a sense for righteousness by interpreting dreams for his cell mates. By showing uncanny integrity towards his acquaintances, Joseph is eventually promoted to an extremely high position of power.
The story reveals that God does reward those who possess kindness and integrity. Unfortunately because his positive character traits offered him great advantages over his peers, Joseph drew a lot of hostility from his peers. Already favored by his father, Jacob, Joseph’s honorable and virtuous disposition only fuels the animosity shared by his brothers. To them he was nothing more than a self-righteous, pompous teenager. After having a pair of allegorical dreams, Joseph decides to describe them to his brothers. In one of them he states, “Suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright; then your sheaves bowed down to my sheaf” (Gen. 37.7). Having dreams where the other crops “bowed” down to his crop revealed the disposition of superiority he possesses over his brothers.
Portraying a shocking amount of arrogance, Joseph shows an eagerness to recount the details of these episodes. Instead of punishing Joseph for his self-righteousness, God ultimately grants Joseph a happy, successful life in Egypt. Throughout this time, while Joseph enjoyed good treatment from his father and blessings from God, a majority of his brothers endured famine, curses, and hardships. The redactors use this event to show the accepted presence of personal preference and favoritism in the culture. Although his character traits made him a countless number of enemies, Joseph’s story justifies all the nepotism and prejudice prevalent throughout the Bible.
Potiphar's Wife Analyses
Potiphar’s wife’s anxiety, stemming from personal hurt and neglect, creates her obsessive disposition. After her husband assigns Joseph the responsibility for his household, Potiphar’s wife begins making her sexual advances towards him. However, no matter how passionate her requests came across, Joseph would always respectfully refuse her wishes. As Oratio Gentischli’s oil painting,Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife,illustrates, Potiphar’s wife lies on the bed staring blankly towards Joseph. As he walks away, her eyes do not reveal lust, but rather, an intense longing for her potential intrigue.
The gloomy cloud of sadness that hovers over her pupils reveals the amount of pain she undergoes after each rejection. It appears as if Potiphar’s wife is pursuing Joseph not to fulfill her physical needs, but to find some sort of companionship. The key fact that Potiphar is never present while she conducts her sexual advances reveal how lonely and neglected this woman must feel. Her desperation for some sort of male companion only empowers how anxiously she needs Joseph. Although a relationship with Joseph, a foreign Israelite among a xenophobic Egyptian society, would be frowned upon, Poitphar’s wife’s relentless pursuit of him demonstrates the intensity of her disposition. This lack of self-worth compels her to persistently pursue a relationship with Joseph even after he indicated he had no interest.
Potiphar’s wife knew that “he refused, but she spoke to Joseph day after day”(Gen. 39.10). Even “after” a countless number of failed attempts, Potiphar’s wife continued on fervently. Despite Joseph making it perfectly clear that he would never participate in any intimate relationship with her, Potiphar’s wife continues on undeterred. Despite the irrationality of her obsession, her actions do not evoke a sense of animosity, but pity. Major doubts about her self worth must be haunting her in order to drive such ridiculous behavior. These profound feelings of anxiety have marred her so deeply that Potiphar’s wife repeatedly risked dire consequences in order to fulfill her obsession.
About the Artists
Giovanni Fracesco Barbieri: Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, known as “The Squinter”, was born in the late sixteenth century in a small Italian village called cento. Given his notorious moniker because he was crossed eyed, Barbieri eventually turned into one of the great Italian Baroque artists. By the age of seventeen, Barbieri enrolled in the Bolognese School for the Arts in Bologna. His sacred paintings at the school eventually caught the attention of Pope Gregory XV who later asked him to create even more pieces for the Vatican. Unlike most artists, Barbieri enjoyed success and affluence during his life time. His paintings were appreciated by the masses and his fame prevalent throughout Italy. Barbieri goes down in history as one of the most prolific painters with 106 altar pieces and 144 gallery paintings. He lived a successful, blissful life painting and teaching students up until his death in 1666.
Orazio Gentileschi: Although Orazio Gentileschi’s birthplace remains unclear, many historians noted that he moved to Rome in the 1570’s to pursue a career in painting landscape. However, after his mentor Carvaggio was convicted of rape and was forced to flee Rome, Gentileschi felt lost and disillusioned. Eventually, he returned to painting with more Tuscan techniques. Not only did he add lighter colors and more precision of detail, but Gentileschi included more painting genres such as portraits to his repertoire. After his extensive traveling from Genoa to Paris, Gentileschi worked for King Charles I of England. He remained in England where his work was well received until his death in 1639.
The sheer magnitude of the assignment hit me like a brick wall. Although Miss Holmgren advertised the Wiki dialogue project as “fun”, I knew our definitions of the word were highly conflicted. After all, a 350 point assignment does not evoke thoughts of happiness and excitement. With that being said, I understood that my challenge was not only to choose two interesting Biblical characters, but also to create enough subtlety in the setting, plot structure, and dialogue of my script to convey their dominating traits. As if writing character analyses papers were not trouble enough, I now have to create an original piece that can be analyzed.
I realized this daunting task would eventually compromise my sanity if I did not decide to have a little fun with it. Taking a more humorous approach, I chose to fabricate the story of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife. I figured Potiphar’s wife’s numerous attempts to seduce Joseph would lend itself to dialogue fraught with clever, sexual euphemisms. Although playing off the Biblical connotations of getting to “know” someone or alluding to Disney music added a humorous element, I struggled with developing the plot of my dialogue.
I struggled to find a balance between creating an insightful piece of dialogue versus writing just another pointless parody. My goal was to make the readers laugh but also have them relate to some of the characters’ many positive and negative characteristics. Although some of my dialogue could have conveyed these traits with more subtlety, I felt demonstrating Joseph’s immaturity and Potiphar’s wife’s loneliness proved successful. Once the dialogue was completed, recording my creation into an actual audio file generated the most fun for this assignment. Although the recording session took much longer with all the unscripted laughs and giggles and fine-tuning the production value took hours, listening to my script after all the editing made up for all the hard work put into the actual script.
My final test arose from actually putting my Wikispace together. With the website creator’s horrendously inefficient formatting tools, I found myself immensely frustrated on more than one occasion. As font styles and image locations continued to change erratically and whole sections of written work getting deleted because the Wikispace shut down on its own, I felt my patience truly tested.
Although I felt the need to hurl my computer desktop out the living room window many times, I learned to patiently and diplomatically handle the sites awful efficiency issues. Surely evolving into a formidable test of mental toughness, I stayed up until the wee hours of the night just so I can optimize appearance of my site. Aesthetically, even with Wikispace’s limited editing tools, I still felt my page looked pretty clean and well-kept. If this project has offered me anything more than an understanding of Biblical characters, all the self doubt and frustration I was forced to encounter has instilled upon me a solid confidence that I can perform even the most tedious of tasks.
Awkward Encounter
by Phillip OIntroduction
What happens when a pubescent teenage boy, encounters a pretty middle aged woman? Usually nothing. But what happens when that same woman wants nothing more than to get to know that teenage boy ? Usually nothing--as long as she does not mean in the Biblical sense. But what if she did? Then some serious censoring will need to take place in order to tell this story.
Fortunately on this Wikispace, the contents of Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife’s rather “Awkward Encounter” are revealed raw and unrestricted. As if this were not enough, the site offers an extensive psychoanalysis on the two characters so readers can see for themselves what truly makes them tick. A colorful diagram and some neat pictures are also presented for those who do not like reading. A follow-up analysis of what takes place during Joseph and Potipar’s Wife’s time together as well as a reflection on the assignment itself wraps everything up in a neat little package.
Dialogue
Potiphar:Okay so Joseph's gonna come by today and just keep everything in order. I expect you to show him around and make him feel at home okay?
Wife: I can't believe you're getting us another servant boy. Maybe if you just help me around the house once in awhile....
Potiphar: You know the Pharaoh's gotten me on a tight schedule....and please take off the makeup, you're not a prostitute. Oh hey there Joseph, this is my wife. That your not suppose to touch under any circumstances (silence). Alright I'll let you two get familiar.
Joseph: Cool
Wife: Ooh wow. You're so muscular.....
Joseph: Haha thanks I know.
Wife: Come let me show you the bed room. (door creak) so basically the linen's really soft and the bed press is really really really sturdy. The mini bar's right over there if you want a drink and the scented candles are over in the cabinet. hey maybe if you're free you can.....
Joseph: I'm not having sex with you.
(birds chirping to indicate a new day)
(scrubbing sound)
Wife: Working hard Joseph?
Joseph: Like always.
Wife: Hey listen about yesterday..I'm sorry i don't know what came over me. Just the heat of the moment, my husband never comes home...
Joseph: Oh no don't worry about it.
Wife: I hope we can be friends. I'm really looking forward to getting to know you.
Joseph: Oh yeah. I'm looking forward to it too. Hey between you and me, I don't think I've ever gotten the chance to know anyone before.
Wife: Well I guess it's your lucky day.
Joseph: yeah. hey, Potiphar said he wanted me to look at one of the stoves in the kitchen. How about afterwards I go whip us up some food and we'll get this party started?
Wife: That sounds great, bring it up to my bedroom .
Joseph: Alright cool.
(knock)
Wife: Come in.
(seductive music)
Joseph: Hey, I didn't know how you like your steak so....(sigh) maam please put your clothes back on.
(alarm clock)
Joseph: God what time is it?
Wife: Hey Joseph, you want Lucky Charms for breakfast? Cause you're magically delicious.
Joseph: Maam, not today please. I just wanna get some work done
Wife: Oh what other work do you do besides being gorgeous?
Joseph: Maam I understand how attractive I must appear to you, but please show some restraint. Your husband will be home soon. He'll have us both thrown in jail.
Wife: If being handsome is a crime, you'd be guilty as charged.
Joseph: Your pick-up lines really need work.
Wife: (pause). You have really soft hands.
Joseph: Maam. I have too much respect for your husband to compromise his trust. I'm sorry. but this is just not going to happen
(foot steps walking away)
Wife: WOULD YOU PLEASE STOP AVOIDING ME. DON'T YOU GET HOW LONELY I AM. I HAVE NEEDS JOSEPH!
Joseph: HEY AND YOU THINK I DON'T?!?! YOUR NOT THE ONE WHO GOT THROWN IN A PIT BY HIS BROTHERS. BY THE TIME THAT CARAVAN CAME, EVEN THE DUDES LOOKED PRETTY DARN ATTRACTIVE.
Wife: Why would they do that? That's so terrible.
Joseph: I told them about these dreams I were having....
Wife: Oh spare me the details..
Joseph: no no not THOSE dreams. I dreamt they all bowed down to me. twice actually. Everything would've been better if they just accepted how much better I am.
Wife: Well your definitely more handsome.....you know me and Potiphar never get to talk like this.
Joseph: why not?
Wife:Oh he's always working. Business trip here. Building Pyramids there. It's like by the time he gets home he doesn't even try.
Joseph: I'm sorry to hear that.
Wife: Well he wasn't always like that. I remembered he used to be a stud. Muscular. Confident. and Considerate. Kinda like you Joseph....
Joseph: Hands to yourself please.
Wife: hehe. sorry. I just get so...so restless. I need you Joseph. You remind me so much of him. Your hair. Your eyes. Your skin. If i could wear your skin i would...
Joseph: Well you know, I do moisturize...
Wife: I uhm... I feel so unloved. I'm so desperate for just some kind of....relief...i need this so badly.
Joseph: Trust me lady. Every fiber in my body just wants to... yeah...but i just can't. Your husband won’t approve.
Wife: Why not? Joseph. Do what feels right.... Maybe just once you can make an exception.
Joseph: Well I guess there's no harm...
Wife: Yeah Joseph. What Potiphar won’t know won’t hurt him right? It'd almost be like you doing me a favor.
(suspenseful music builds up)
Joseph: I guess. I mean it’s about time right? I’m sure a quick one won’t hurt. I could just...maybe real quick...no i can't ....God's watching....
Wife: What?
Joseph: God can...(whispers) he can see everything.
Wife: ARE YOU SERIOUS IS THIS WHY ALL THIS ISN'T HAPPENING. THIS IS RIDICULOUS! I am so disgusted with you right now you don't even know
Joseph: Hey screw you. it's a legitimate concern
Wife: (sarcastically) oh yeah. your scared to try anything cause some old guy up in the sky's going to strike you down with lightning
Joseph: Don't get me angry lady.
Wife: how many more hints do I have to give you before you can man up! You act like such a child. What the hell can God do to you anyways?
Joseph: I'm leaving!
Wife: Yeah go run and play. Go play with your damn Legos and Hannah Montanna CD you little brat.
Joseph: There's nothing wrong with any of those things! Oh yeah, I'm gonna go buy a rag doll and explain to a lawyer where you wanted to touch me.
Wife: Yeah cause that will totally work...
Joseph: Yeah. I'm going to take my shirt off too so everyone's going to think you and I had sex!....here take it!
Wife:People are going to think you made the advances.....which (revelation) now that I think about it, is really fine by me.
Joseph: I've never hit a women before but you're really pushing it.
Wife: I bet you hit like a child also.
Joseph. Alright this ends now
Wife: Fight me on the bed like a real man Joseph.
Joseph: I....I've never hit a women before and i'm not starting now. I'm walking away from all this. Tell your husband I'm resigning. Keep the shirt so you don't have to call me cause I never want to talk to you again.
Wife: Good riddance.
(Footsteps)
Potiphar: Hey hun when's dinner gonna be....Why do you have Joseph's shirt?
Wife: Hey honey your home. Boy do I have a story to tell you.....
Dialogue Analysis
Phillip Ou’s captivating dialogue, “Awkward Encounter”, shows that although Joseph comes across as naïve and narcissistic, his ability to demonstrate class and honor conquers his temptations. Joseph reveals early on that he will not participate in any adulterous acts despite Potiphar’s wife’s invitations. While expressing her desires to know Joseph in the Biblical sense of the word, Potiphar’s wife begins to make sexual advances towards her new housekeeper. Joseph, who completely overlooks the euphemism, informs her that he also looks forward to doing so because he has never “gotten the chance to know anyone before” (Ou 2). Although Joseph perfectly executes an ingeniously written sexual euphemism, he displays a true lack of maturity by failing to understand the true connotation of the word “know”.
By misinterpreting the implication of her words, Joseph naively convinces himself that Potiphar’s wife truly wants to connect with him as a friend and not use him to satisfy her sexual needs. Joseph’s apparent lack of understanding and reasoning only encourages Potiphar’s wife to keep pursuing him. Another one of her attempts eventually compels Joseph to express his apparent vanity when Potiphar’s wife compliments him. When the two enter a discussion about their familial relationships, Joseph explains the animosity his brothers felt towards him because they could not accept “how much better [he] [was]” (Ou 3). By blatantly expressing his superiority over his older brothers, Joseph’s pretentiousness conquers any inclination he may have to respect his elders; thus defying one of the most prominent cultural values of the time. However, despite his childish disposition and conceited attitudes, Joseph handles his situation with Potiphar’s wife in a dignified manner.
Although most people would succumb to temptation and submit to Potiphar’s wife’s invitations, Joseph politely says, “Maam. I have too much respect for your husband to compromise his trust” (Ou 2). After chivalrously addressing Potiphar’s wife as “Maam”, Joseph honorably declines getting involved in any sexual relationship with his master’s wife. Joseph feels that violating Potiphar’s wife would dishonor and “compromise” the trust he has bestowed on Joseph. Demonstrating maturity and prudence beyond his years, Joseph weighs the integrity of his master over the lust any man would succumb to. Although Joseph possesses some glaring issues with his personality, his overall consideration and tactfulness allow him to do the right thing even in the most difficult situations.
Character Analysis
The Chart
Joseph Character Analyses
Joseph’s consistently noble and honorable nature allows him to come across as conceited and sanctimonious to his peers. Although just sold into an Egyptian household, Joseph takes command of his Potiphar’s home and all his possessions. Ultimately, his presence draws numerous sexual advances made by his master’s wife. Despite her invitations, Giovanni Barbieri’s painting,Guercino, illustrates a young Joseph holding off the woman’s hands and refraining from participating in any form of intercourse. Even more significant, Joseph’s eyes do not glare at the woman’s tempting figure.Although lust would consume any man in this situation, his respectfulness for her and her husband allow him to avoid the image of her naked body all together.
The story reveals that God does reward those who possess kindness and integrity. Unfortunately because his positive character traits offered him great advantages over his peers, Joseph drew a lot of hostility from his peers. Already favored by his father, Jacob, Joseph’s honorable and virtuous disposition only fuels the animosity shared by his brothers. To them he was nothing more than a self-righteous, pompous teenager. After having a pair of allegorical dreams, Joseph decides to describe them to his brothers. In one of them he states, “Suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright; then your sheaves bowed down to my sheaf” (Gen. 37.7). Having dreams where the other crops “bowed” down to his crop revealed the disposition of superiority he possesses over his brothers.
Portraying a shocking amount of arrogance, Joseph shows an eagerness to recount the details of these episodes. Instead of punishing Joseph for his self-righteousness, God ultimately grants Joseph a happy, successful life in Egypt. Throughout this time, while Joseph enjoyed good treatment from his father and blessings from God, a majority of his brothers endured famine, curses, and hardships. The redactors use this event to show the accepted presence of personal preference and favoritism in the culture. Although his character traits made him a countless number of enemies, Joseph’s story justifies all the nepotism and prejudice prevalent throughout the Bible.
Potiphar's Wife Analyses
Potiphar’s wife’s anxiety, stemming from personal hurt and neglect, creates her obsessive disposition. After her husband assigns Joseph the responsibility for his household, Potiphar’s wife begins making her sexual advances towards him. However, no matter how passionate her requests came across, Joseph would always respectfully refuse her wishes. As Oratio Gentischli’s oil painting,Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife,illustrates, Potiphar’s wife lies on the bed staring blankly towards Joseph. As he walks away, her eyes do not reveal lust, but rather, an intense longing for her potential intrigue.The gloomy cloud of sadness that hovers over her pupils reveals the amount of pain she undergoes after each rejection. It appears as if Potiphar’s wife is pursuing Joseph not to fulfill her physical needs, but to find some sort of companionship. The key fact that Potiphar is never present while she conducts her sexual advances reveal how lonely and neglected this woman must feel. Her desperation for some sort of male companion only empowers how anxiously she needs Joseph. Although a
Potiphar’s wife knew that “he refused, but she spoke to Joseph day after day”(Gen. 39.10). Even “after” a countless number of failed attempts, Potiphar’s wife continued on fervently. Despite Joseph making it perfectly clear that he would never participate in any intimate relationship with her, Potiphar’s wife continues on undeterred. Despite the irrationality of her obsession, her actions do not evoke a sense of animosity, but pity. Major doubts about her self worth must be haunting her in order to drive such ridiculous behavior. These profound feelings of anxiety have marred her so deeply that Potiphar’s wife repeatedly risked dire consequences in order to fulfill her obsession.
About the Artists
Giovanni Fracesco Barbieri: Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, known as “The Squinter”, was born in the late sixteenth century in a small Italian village called cento. Given his notorious moniker because he was crossed eyed, Barbieri eventually turned into one of the great Italian Baroque artists. By the age of seventeen, Barbieri enrolled in the Bolognese School for the Arts in Bologna. His sacred paintings at the school eventually caught the attention of Pope Gregory XV who later asked him to create even more pieces for the Vatican. Unlike most artists, Barbieri enjoyed success and affluence during his life time. His paintings were appreciated by the masses and his fame prevalent throughout Italy. Barbieri goes down in history as one of the most prolific painters with 106 altar pieces and 144 gallery paintings. He lived a successful, blissful life painting and teaching students up until his death in 1666.
For More Information Go to Barbieri's Biography
Orazio Gentileschi: Although Orazio Gentileschi’s birthplace remains unclear, many historians noted that he moved to Rome in the 1570’s to pursue a career in painting landscape. However, after his mentor Carvaggio was convicted of rape and was forced to flee Rome, Gentileschi felt lost and disillusioned. Eventually, he returned to painting with more Tuscan techniques. Not only did he add lighter colors and more precision of detail, but Gentileschi included more painting genres such as portraits to his repertoire. After his extensive traveling from Genoa to Paris, Gentileschi worked for King Charles I of England. He remained in England where his work was well received until his death in 1639.
To See More Paintings Go to Gentileschi's Online Gallery
Reflection
The sheer magnitude of the assignment hit me like a brick wall. Although Miss Holmgren advertised the Wiki dialogue project as “fun”, I knew our definitions of the word were highly conflicted. After all, a 350 point assignment does not evoke thoughts of happiness and excitement. With that being said, I understood that my challenge was not only to choose two interesting Biblical characters, but also to create enough subtlety in the setting, plot structure, and dialogue of my script to convey their dominating traits. As if writing character analyses papers were not trouble enough, I now have to create an original piece that can be analyzed.
I realized this daunting task would eventually compromise my sanity if I did not decide to have a little fun with it. Taking a more humorous approach, I chose to fabricate the story of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife. I figured Potiphar’s wife’s numerous attempts to seduce Joseph would lend itself to dialogue fraught with clever, sexual euphemisms. Although playing off the Biblical connotations of getting to “know” someone or alluding to Disney music added a humorous element, I struggled with developing the plot of my dialogue.
I struggled to find a balance between creating an insightful piece of dialogue versus writing just another pointless parody. My goal was to make the readers laugh but also have them relate to some of the characters’ many positive and negative characteristics. Although some of my dialogue could have conveyed these traits with more subtlety, I felt demonstrating Joseph’s immaturity and Potiphar’s wife’s loneliness proved successful.
Once the dialogue was completed, recording my creation into an actual audio file generated the most fun for this assignment. Although the recording session took much longer with all the unscripted laughs and giggles and fine-tuning the production value took hours, listening to my script after all the editing made up for all the hard work put into the actual script.
My final test arose from actually putting my Wikispace together. With the website creator’s horrendously inefficient formatting tools, I found myself immensely frustrated on more than one occasion. As font styles and image locations continued to change erratically and whole sections of written work getting deleted because the Wikispace shut down on its own, I felt my patience truly tested.
Although I felt the need to hurl my computer desktop out the living room window many times, I learned to patiently and diplomatically handle the sites awful efficiency issues. Surely evolving into a formidable test of mental toughness, I stayed up until the wee hours of the night just so I can optimize appearance of my site. Aesthetically, even with Wikispace’s limited editing tools, I still felt my page looked pretty clean and well-kept.
If this project has offered me anything more than an understanding of Biblical characters, all the self doubt and frustration I was forced to encounter has instilled upon me a solid confidence that I can perform even the most tedious of tasks.
Citations
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Barbieri, Giovanni. Guercino. 17th Century. Art History Archive. Web. 19 Apr. 2010. <http://www.arthistoryarchive. com/arthistory/christian/ images/Guercino-Joseph-and- Potiphars-Wife-1649.jpg>.
Cockiness. N.d. Comic Vine. N.p., 5 Aug. 2009. Web. 19 May 2010. <http://media.comicvine.com/ uploads/0/40/905142-cocky_ super.jpg>.
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Kren, Emil, and Daniel Marx. "Gentileschi, Orazio." Web Gallery of ARt. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 May 2010. <http://www.wga.hu/frames-e. html?/bio/g/gentiles/orazio/ biograph.html>.
Laurie, Adams. Homework. N.d. Glastonbury Public Schools. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2010. <https://www.glastonburyus. org/staff/ADAMSL/ PublishingImages/cartoon% 20picture%20of%20girl% 20writing.jpg>.
The New Oxford Annotated Bible. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007. Print.
Parisi, Mark. Lesson on Symoblism. 8 Dec. 1994. Off the Mark. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 May 2010. <http://www. offthemarkcartoons.com/ cartoons/1994-12-08.gif>.
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